U.S. Department of Justice

United States AttorneyDistrict of Connecticut

Connecticut Contractor Sentenced to
Federal Prison for Role in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Brian Guimond, 45, of Norwich, Conn. was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford, Conn., to 27 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for his participation in an eastern Connecticut mortgage fraud scheme, David B. Fein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2004 to 2007, Jose Guzman and others used mortgage brokerage, property management and home improvement companies to arrange for individuals (borrowers) to purchase real estate, primarily residential housing properties located in New London County, Conn., by obtaining funding from various mortgage companies and mortgage originators after submitting false information on the borrowers’ mortgage loan applications. The fraudulent information included information regarding income, assets, employment, rent history, as well as the borrowers’ intention to make the properties their primary residence. The borrowers were compensated for participating in the scheme

On a number of transactions, Guimond conspired with Guzman and others to sign false employment verification forms representing that borrowers were employed at his company, The Cutting Edge Contracting Inc., a home improvement contractor and landscaping company, with offices in Norwich and New London, Conn. On certain mortgage transactions, Guzman and others falsified closing records, including false work invoices from The Cutting Edge, and caused checks to be issued at the closing made payable to The Cutting Edge, from funds provided by the lenders, purportedly to pay for work that had been done on the property prior to the closing when little or no work had been performed. The checks were converted to cashier’s checks, which were then used as purported down payments from the borrower. Through this scheme, the co-conspirators collected large commissions and fees, and a portion of the funds advanced by the lenders, which were intended to be used to finance the purchase of the properties, were in fact used for the benefit of the co-conspirators and their various companies.

According to previously filed court documents, the government believes that more than 200 fraudulent mortgages were funded through this mortgage fraud scheme, causing more than $9 million in losses to lenders.

As part of his sentence, Judge Covello ordered Guimond to pay restitution in the amount of $7,811,695.44.

On Oct. 24, 2008, Guimond pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Fifteen other individuals, including Jose Guzman, have pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from this scheme. Jose Guzman awaits sentencing.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. McGarry and David T. Huang.

In July 2009, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI announced the formation of the Connecticut Mortgage Fraud Task Force to investigate and prosecute mortgage fraud cases and related financial crimes occurring in Connecticut. Citizens are encouraged to report any suspected mortgage fraud activity by calling 203-333-3512 and requesting the Connecticut Mortgage Fraud Task Force, or by sending an email to
ctmortgagefraud@ic.fbi.gov
.

The Connecticut Mortgage Fraud Task Force includes representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office; FBI; Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, and State of Connecticut Department of Banking.